The underground passage situated near Municipal Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Botanica district will be repaired by the end of this year. A sum of 9 million lei was allocated from the municipal budget for the purpose. Answering journalists’ questions after the meeting of officials of municipal services, acting mayor of Chișinău Ruslan Codreanu said they intended to repair eight underground pedestrian tunnels this year, but they do not succeed, IPN reports.

Deputy mayor Nistor Grozavu said he will discuss with the company that manages the mall situated nearby so as to agree when to start the repair works on the passage in Botanica. The other underground pedestrian tunnels will be repaired next year.

“The problem is within the remit of those that manage these passages. They can be repaired, but in half a year we can experience the current situation. I cannot be responsible for the state in which the tunnels are now following many years, especially for those that do not belong to us as a municipality. They were privatized and became property of business entities. The company owes 12 million lei to the municipality and does not want to pay this money,” stated Ruslan Codreanu.

In the municipality of Chișinău, there are 20 underground pedestrian tunnels. Twelve of these are managed by business entities.